Amazon tricked me into buying this one with its pretty cover and all. I wish I'd checked this one out on GR before one-click-buying it. It's a littleAmazon tricked me into buying this one with its pretty cover and all. I wish I'd checked this one out on GR before one-click-buying it. It's a little too sweet for my tastes, it's making my teeth hurt with all the candy cane sweetness and a little too on the Jesus and God side of things for me. A little in the spirit of Christmas is fine, but this? Too. Much. Overall rating: 3/5 stars.

Hope For Christmas by Mary ConnealyThis is a rather cute story very apt for the season. On the run from a horrible mother in law Kelsey is rescued by a rugged cowboy who basically saves her life. The rugged cowboy, Tanner, comes with a huge family that circles their wagons around her and it all ends up neatly wrapped with a bow on top. A little too on the “yeah, right” side of things, but it fits the mood of the season, so I’m putting this one in the “I liked this story” camp.4/5 stars

Her Christmas Cowboy by Audra HardersToo heavy on the Bible quotes, Jesus and God. I liked the characters all right, and the premise was good. But I just could not get on board with all the Bible thumpin’ going on. It just kept reminding me of how holier than thou some people are, and I just could not get into the story. Ease up on the Bible stuff, and this would have been an half decent story.2/5 stars

Longing For A Miracle by Ruth Logan HerneI’m all for Christmas Miracles and people beating the odds. What I’m not all for, is reading about kids dying. Not even to set the mood of the story. I read to escape reality, I do not need a dose of reality in my books. You kill kids in the story, and then you go on with an holier than thou attitude and have your characters pray and whatnot. This is what I call a double standard. This is why I have such issues with people who shove their religion down your throat, thinking they’re better than you just cause they go to church. This is why I give this story only one star.1/5 stars

A Heart Full Of Hope by Sandra LeesmithThis one is kind of formal and very impersonal. The characters are very polite to each other and you really can’t feel their love or passion. More like strangers than two people in love, when that proposal happens, it just doesn’t fit the story. It’s well written, but there is no connection between the characters, and there is no connection between the characters and the reader.2/5 stars

I’ll Be Home For Christmas by Tina RadcliffeFinally a story in this anthology done right! Given that it is a short novella, things have to progress a little fast. The ending feels a little rushed, but I loved the characters and I loved how they grew closer and closer against their own wills. Just like the first story in this anthology, there was enough action to keep me reading without putting the book down.5/5 stars

One Perfect Gift by Missy TippensThis isn’t something an author likes to hear, but I had completely forgotten what this story was about. I had to go back and re-read the blurb to remember what I’d read. It was a cute story, though with my love for rock stars (or country stars as in this one) this one doesn’t really stand out from the others I’ve read. It’s fitting for this time of year and a nice way to round out this anthology.3/5 stars...more

It is rare to find six very good novellas by six very different authors in one anthology. To say I've been enchanted by each and every story, is to puIt is rare to find six very good novellas by six very different authors in one anthology. To say I've been enchanted by each and every story, is to put it mildly.

The name for the anthology, Wicked Firsts, is very fitting. These stories are wicked in every sexy sense you can think of, and each story has a "first" experience for its characters.

First Exposure by Elisabeth Naughton4 stars

The anthology kicks off with a high paced plot that nearly has one of the characters killed. The sexual tension between the characters is intense enough to have anyone reaching for ice cold water. And when Avery and Cade finally do hook up, it is wicked hot.

First Rapture by Alexandra Ivy3 1/2 stars

I have fallen completely in love with Alexandra Ivy's writing. She always manages to pull me right into her world in just a few paragraphs. First Rapture is no different like that. The chemistry between Madison and Luc is so good, and feels so real, you just want them to have the most wicked sex in the history of sex, though the sex ends up a little on the vanilla side of things.

Madison is out to take revenge on Luc for breaking her heart when she was 18. They hook up, it's explosive, and she runs away. This could easily have been an un-happily ever after ending. But Luc, stupid in love with Madison, chases her down and convinces her to give him a new chance. Even if he's based out of Las Vegas, and Madison is in New York City, they make it work. Or rather, Luc makes some sacrifices to make sure their relationship works.

First Taste Of Darkness by Cynthia Eden4 stars

Getting shot at can make any girl run in the other direction of a really hot guy. It doesn't matter how sexy he is, a bullet will chase a girl away. At least Jess is trying to run away from the bullets raining down around her and her one night stand, Blake.

But Blake, rich and spoiled, has taken a fancy to Jess, and refuses to let her slip away. He takes her with him to a different location, and proceeds to seduce her. Their hook-up is hot, and their first few days are action packed. Ms Eden manages to pack a lot of punch into a short novella. I was at the edge of my seat, anxious to find out what would happen with Jess and Blake.

First Ink by Laura Wright4 1/2 stars

Ms Wright has taken a real shine to hot guys and tattoos, and that makes me a very happy girl. It is rare to read a story where you're sympathetic to a character, and at the same time you resent them just a little. Addison is such a character. I both hated her and loved her. I hated her for what she had done to Rush when they were teens, and I loved her for not having a moments peace of mind until she could apologize to Rush.

but most of all I loved Rush for giving Addison a real hard time. She deserved it. Rush is this sexy tattoo artist, wanted by women and admired by men. I kept thinking I want a Rush all to myself.

I love the setup of how the meet again. I love the explosive chemistry between the characters. And I found it amusing that his tattoo shop and his skills as the bad ass artist is featured in all six novellas.

First Surrender by Katie Reus4 stars

This story literally takes off with a bang. Both Hayden and Sierra have been in love with the other for ages, and when there's an attempt to kidnap/kill Sierra, Hayden wakes up and claims her for himself. I knew who the bad guy was from the moment he was introduced, making this story a little predictable. But true to the anthology title - Wicked - the characters have amazing chemistry in the bedroom.

First Temptation by Joan Swan5 stars

This story is a little different to the others as it doesn't take place in Las Vegas.

Border Patrol Agent Zoe Brook, and Counterterrorist Agent Taft Walker are hot from the get go. They go undercover, working in a sextoy shop. Their attempts at running the store are both sexy and funny. As they prepared to walk into the devil's den, so to speak, and all the way to the very end, I was almost biting my nails. I just had no clue where the author was going, and I was more than surprised by some of the twists in this one....more